A MULTI-MILLION pound health complex providing a wider range of services to patients in north Liverpool has opened its doors.

The £5m Neighbourhood Health Centre in Mere Lane, Everton, is the second new development to be provided in the area after a £6m centre opened in Townsend Lane, Anfield, in January.

The two schemes are part of Liverpool Primary Care Trust’s wider vision for a new health service for Liverpool, which was announced in 2007.

Since then millions of pounds have been invested in purpose-built or improved facilities across the city to move services available closer to people’s homes.

The health centre at Mere Lane was announced following eight weeks of consultation, which saw 94% of respondents in favour of the proposals.

The additional services which patients will be able to access at Mere Lane include extended GP opening hours over evenings and weekends; dental services; pharmacy; blood tests and nurse-led treatments, such as ear syringing and wound dressings.

PCT chairman Gideon Ben-Tovim said: "The new health service for Liverpool is the most ambitious health programme the city has seen.

"When we outlined our plans we had a vision of delivering a wider range of services closer to people’s homes to make it more convenient and quicker for patients to access them.

"As we ready ourselves to hand over our responsibilities to the new commissioning organisations next April, I am delighted to see the Neighbourhood Health Centres and the NHS Treatment Centre are already making a huge difference to the communities they serve. We are confident the programme will have a long-term impact on improving the health of Liverpool as a whole and will be a lasting legacy to the city."

The new developments were built by Liverpool and Sefton Health Partnership (LSHP).

"Our partnership with NHS Merseyside is an exemplar of what can be achieved by the public and private sector working in partnership to deliver new, fit for purpose buildings close to where they live.

"Our developments serve areas which have poor health outcomes and which have often seen little investment over recent years. I am confident that the new Neighbourhood Health Centre at Mere Lane will provide services that will be of great benefit to both patients and clinicians."